Video Surveillance Blog

« Is digital video surveillance the next top commodity? | Main | Surveillance roundup: are school security cameras now the norm? »

August 30, 2007

Safety, novelty make car surveillance cameras a popular feature

Parallel parking for the first time is never easy - there's the careful initial alignment, and the tricky backwards steering and fingers-crossed reversing into the spot. Hopefully, if all goes as planned, the maneuver will be over soon. However, we all know that these things don't always go as planned - and sometimes, an attempt at parallel parking ends in a gut-wrenching crunch. This is how driving has been for years - a game of chance - a game that many auto makers are trying to change.

One of the most popular features on new cards in recent years has been miniature color cameras - planted in the front and rear bumpers of new cars - with a monitor in the front console near the stereo and other control panels. These range from a simple, color camera mounted on the rear bumper on a Chrysler Pacifica to a state-of-the-art IP camera with infrared sensors (capable of detecting humans or animals at distances up to 1000 feet) on a BMW.

The cameras are consumer favorites for many reasons - primarily accident prevention. A reported 30% of accidents happen from behind, and motorists choose cars with built-in cameras to prevent these accidents from happening - especially in situations like backing up, either out of a driveway or parking space, where visibility is limited.

Some manufacturers, like Land Rover, are using developing technology to make even more impressive cameras. Currently, Land Rover is testing a model of wireless camera that can be removed and placed up to 65 feet away in order to help owners escape sticky situations like ruts and ravines. This is an innovative and clever use of IP video and wireless IP video that could play a helpful role in the transition from CCTV cameras to IP technology.

Car surveillance cameras, even if they're just used to prevent accidents, are a remarkable example of how video surveillance technology has developed in just a few years.

Bookmark this in Del.icio.us.

Posted by Jennifer on August 30, 2007 1:03 PM

Permalink | Comments (0)